Window structure



Feb. 3, 1959 M. .1. NARDULLI 2,871,522

WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed Nov. '7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I-f-f-L I v T 1 fizz/safer @z'cflZWrduZZ z I 13AM w 77 m Feb. 3, 1959 M. J. NARDULLI 2,871,522

WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed Nov. '7, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent WINDOW STRUCTURE Michael J. Nardulli, Elmwood Park, Ill., assignor to Michael J. Nardulli, Angelo F. Naples, and Peter F. Nardulli, as trustees Application November 7, 1956, Serial No. 620,944

3 Claims. (Cl. 20-12) This invention relates to window structures, and particularly to a sash guide assembly that provides two yieldable sash runways.

It is quite common in the window art to provide yieldable sash runways for engagement with the opposite edges of a sash so that the sash may be removed by pressing the sash laterally against one yieldable runway to thereby release the opposite edge of the sash from the opposite runway, thus to enable the sash to be removed. One such structure is illustrated in my co-pending application Serial No. 521,185, filed July 11, 1955, now Patent No. 2,828,513 issued April 1, 1958 and in the structure shown in such copending application provision is also made for enabling the sash to be tilted inwardly about their lower edges for cleaning and like purposes.

It often happens that it is desired to remove the original sash from various types of double hung window installations and to replace such sash in such a way that the new sash may be removed and/or tilted in the general manner described in my aforesaid copending application. It is the primary object of the present invention to simplify the performance of such repair and replacement operations, and a further and related object of the present invention is to provide a novel sash guide assembly that is so arranged that it may be readily and easily put in place in an original window frame to provide yielding guideways for new sash that are to be installed.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims, and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, by way of illustration, show a preferred embodiment of the present invention and the principles thereof, and what is now considered to be the best mode in which to apply these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention.

In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a double hung window installation wherein new sash have been mounted by the use of the sash guide assembly of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat diagrammatic perspective view showing the mounting of the sash guide assembly; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the window structure shown in Fig. 1, the view being taken in two different horizontal planes so as to show different struc-' tural features in a single view. Y

For purposes of disclosure, the invention is herein shown as embodied in a sash guide assembly that is mounted in position in a double hung window frame 11 so as to provide for removable, or removable and tiltable mounting of upper and lower sash 14 and 15 in the window frame.

The window frame 11, as herein shown, is of the simplified type that is often used where the sash are to be counterbalanced by-means of a springbalance, but-it is important to note that the present invention finds application also in conventional types ,of window frames where a hollow jamb is provided to enable weight and pulley counterbalancing of the sash to be used. Thus, in respect to the frame 11 as herein shown, such frame has aheader 11H, a sill 11S and jambs 111. These jambs 11] have a plank type vertical member 11P that is grooved When a removable type sash mounting is to be 'incorporated in such a frame 11, the original sash are removed, and the parting stop is also removed. In those instances where a weight and pulley counterbalancing meansyis provided, it may'in some instances be desirableto remove the pulleys.

After the frame 11 has thus been prepared, the necessary yieldable runways may be readily installed under thepresent invention by securing a sash runway assembly 10 in position on each of the jambs 111, and this assembly is so dimensioned that it will fit readily into the space that is ordinarily provided between the outer stop '16 andv the inner stop 17. It will be recognized, of course, that: where there is an objectionable variation in this space, the inner stop 17 may be moved to conform with the= spacing required by the assembly 10.

As will be evident, particularly in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings, each assembly 10 comprises a main housing 20 that is generally channel-like in form and in which a pair of sash guide channels 30 are secured so asto form parallel. sash runways that are yielding in character by reason of spring means S that are interposed between the respective channels 30 and the housingv member '20 as will be described.

In the form illustrated herein, each housing 20 has a stepped base wall 21 that comprises a first section 21L and a raised or offset section 21R, these sections being joined by a right angular wall 21V. Atthe other edge of the section 21L, a side wall 21A is provided, while at the other edge of the section 21R, a side wall 21B is provided, this side wall 21B having an extension 2115 at what may be termed its lower edge that extends to the plane of the lower surface of the wall section 21L. This enables the wall section 21L and the extension 21E to bear on the face of the plank member MP of the frame, and when the assembly is to be installed, the housing 21 is secured in place by ,a plurality of screws 23 that are extended through the wall sections 21L and 21R in particular locations and in a particular manner as will be described in somedetail hereinafter. It will be noted that the height of the wall 21B above the base section 21R is substantially the same as the height of the wall 21A above the base section 21L, and this provides for a similar range of guided movement of the channels 30 even though the outside channel 30 extends beyond-the inside channel 30, as shown in Fig. 3. This oifset'relation is used in order that the upper or outer sash 14 may pivot inwardly without objectionable interference with the inner channel 30. g I

The mounting channels 30 maytake different forms, but as herein shown, such channel '30 as well as the spring means S are of the form and construction shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 619,460 filed October 31, 1956.

The mounting channels 30, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, each comprise a rolled section made from thin sheet metal, and this channel has opposite edge walls 32N and 32W of equal height and in parallel relation, and at their rear-edges R the edge walls 32N and- 32W have inturned'hems 32H; At their forward edgesthc walls 32W and.32N*ar e turned or bentitowardeacheother in a common plane to provide walls 33N and 33W which will be described. At the adjacent edges of the walls 33N and 33W the metal is bent rearwardly to form walls 34N and 34W that extend about one-half the distance toward the plane of the rear edges R. The metal is then bent inwardly from the rear edges of the two walls 33N and 313W to provide walls35N and 35W that are located in a common plane parallel to the plane of the forward walls 33N and 33W. The walls and are connected at their rear edges by a wall 37 located in the plane of the rear edges R.

p The walls 34N and 34W thus constitute side walls of amain sash locating and retaining groove 40, the bottom of which is defined by the Walls 35N and 35W, and this groove 40 is adapted to receive a projecting tongue 41 that is formed on the adjacent edge of the side stile 228 of the sash. The tongue 41 is formed by rabbetting the vertical corners of the side stile 225. Thus, the outside corner of the stile 228 is rabbetted to provide a side surface for the tongue 41, and a right angularly related surface that may bear flat against the surface of either the wall 33W-or 33N. The rabbet at the other or inner vertical edge of the side stile 228 is of a special form that enables the tilting movement of the sash to be attained as described in both of my aforesaid co-pending applications. Thus, the special rabbet at the inner edge of the sash has one surface that may bear flat against the other of the two walls 33N or 33W, while the other side surface of the rabbet defines the other side of the tongue 41. This other side surface of the rabbet is formed as a sloping or curved cam surface 41C, and this cam surface utilized, as described in my aforesaid copending application, to enable the sash to be tilted inwardly about pivots 29 that are provided on the sides of stiles 228 of the sash 14 or 15 near the lower edges 'of the sash. This cam action is described in detail in such co-pending applications.

The walls 36W and 36N and the wall 37 serve to define a clearance groove which enables the mounting of the channel 30 to be readily accomplished. Thus, holes are provided at spaced points along the wall 37 and securing means such as screws 47 may be extended through these openings so that the heads of the screws are disposed at out-of-the-way locations near the bottom of the clearance groove. Under and in accordance with the present invention the screws 47 are threaded into fixed 1 nuts 47N that are secured in the bottom wall sections 21R or 21L of the housing 20, and such screws 47 may thus hold the channels 30 in position and limit the outward extent of movement that may be imparted to the channels by the spring means S. The screws 47 are, of course, adjusted so that the channels may firmly engage the sash. The adjacent channels 30 in each housing 20 are so positioned that the walls 33W are side by side, as will be evident in Fig. 3, and these walls 33W thus provide the horizontal spacing between the two sash of an installation to accommodate the usual meeting rail structure.

The spring means S are shown in detail in the second of my aforesaid co-pending applications, and are shown herein in Figs. 2 and 3. Referring particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawing, it is noted that the spring means S comprises a central mounting clip 50 that has two bow-type springs 51 extended in opposite directions from the clip 50, and the clip 50 is so formed and arranged that it may be snapped into a locked position within the hollow space in the rear side of the channel.

The clip 50 snaps into position in the back grooves of the channel 30, as described in detail in the second of my aforesaid copending application, and reference is hereby made to such application for complete details of the spring means S and its operation. When thus mounted the springs S urge the channels 30 yieldingly away from or outwardly of the housing 20, and the extent of such movement is limited either by the screws 47 or by engagement of the channels 30 with a sash.

When the channels 30 with their springs S have been thus assembled in a housing 20 to produce the sash guide assembly 10, such sash guide assembly may be cut to desired length by sawing so as to be prepared for mounting on the jamb of a window frame after this frame has been prepared as hereinbefore described. It will be noted, of course, that the nuts 47N and the ends of the screws 47 project beyond what may be termed the rear face of the base wall 21, and when an installation is to be made, clearance openings must be provided at the appropriate points in the jambs of the window frame. This may be accomplished by forming clearance bores 56 in the plank 11P, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawmgs.

The sash guide assembly 10 may then be put into position, and to enable the sash guide assemblies to be secured in place, aligned pairs of openings 57 and 58 are formed respectively in the bottom walls 37 of the channels 30 and the opposed bottom wall section 21L or 21R of the housing 20. This is preferably done 'in the factory assembly of the unit. It is noted that the opening 57 in each instance, is larger thanthe opening 58 so that the head 23H of a screw 23 may pass freely through the opening 57 of the wall 37 of the channel. Then when the screw body is passed through the smaller opening 58 and is screwed into the jamb III, as shown in Fig. 3, the head 23H will engage the bottom wall 21 to hold the same position against the jamb. It might be pointed out that the aligned pairs of openings 57 and 58 are located in portions of the assembly where they will not interfere with either the screws 47 orthe springs S.

After the fastening screws 23 have been put in place, the openings 57 in the walls 37 of the channels 30 are closed by inserting resilient grommet-like closure plugs 60 into such openings 57, as will be evident in Fig. 3 of the drawings. v

In the installation of sash guide assemblies 10, the upper end edge is cut at right angles so that it may butt against the lower surface of head 11H, and the lower end edge may also be cut to conform with the vertical dimension of the window frame and with the slope angle of the sill 118. I prefer, however, to cut the lower edge at somewhat of an angle as indicated at 62 in Fig. 1 and this angle preferably selected at the minimum slope that is likely to be encountered in a sill. Moreover, the vertical dimension of the assembly is made somewhat less than the distance between the head and the sill, and this procedure is adopted to simplify the installation. When the sash guide assembly 10 is thus formed and dimensioned, this space beneath the lower ends of the sash guide assemblies 10 may be filled through the use of a self-adjusting sill that is shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 620,866, filed November 7, 1956. This sill comprises a plate 71 and a layer of compressible material 72 fixed to the lower sash of the plate 71, and the sill 70 is held in position by the lower ends of the assemblies 10 and by a plurality, of screws 73 which also compress intermediate portions of the material 72 so that the sill 70 has a uniform upper surface. Insofar as the present invention is concerned, however, the use of sill 70 is not essential.

In the foregoing description the sash guide assembly 10 has been describedas being installed in conventional window frames in the course of repair and replacement operations that provide for removable and/or tiltable sash, but, it will be recognized that the sash guide assembly of this invention may, in many instances, be used in new construction where it is desired to eliminate the usual window frames by mounting the sash guide assembly on vertical frame membersof a building. It

is also noted that a particular form of sash runway or channel 30 and a particular form of spring means have been disclosed herein, but, other forms of channel and spring means may be utilized within the purview of the present invention.

From the foregoing descriptions, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel sash guide assembly that is adapted particularly for use in repair and remodel operations, and further that such assembly may readily and easily be put in place to provide for removable mounting of window sash.

Thus while I have illustrated and described a pre ferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A yieldable sash guide assembly comprising an elongated channel-like mounting housing having a base wall and side walls, a pair of sash guide channels disposed in side by side relation in said housing, spring means in said housing and interposed between the respective sash guide channels and said base wall at predetermined spaced points along the length of the respective channels, retaining screws extended from said channels at other spaced points and threaded through said base wall to limit separating movement of said channels with respect to said base wall, and aligned openings through said channels and said base Wall at still other spaced points, the said openings in said channels being larger than the aligned openings in said base wall whereby fastening screws may be inserted through aligned pairs of openings to secure said base wall against a mounting surface.

2. in a sash guide assembly, an elongated channellike housing having a base wall and opposite side walls, said base wall having mounting openings therein at spaced points through which mounting screws or the like may be extended in mounting said housing, a pair of sash guide channels disposed in side by side relation in said housing, said base wall having one longitudinal section that is located opposite one of said channels offset with respect to the other section of the base wall, means acting between the respective sections of said base wall and the respective channels to limit separating movement of said channels with respect to said base wall and define normal positions for said channels wherein one channel projects from said housing beyond the other channel, spring means urging said channels to said normal positions, said channels having clearance openings therein opposite said mounting opening of said base wall and through which such mounting screws may be inserted, and removable means for closing said clearance openings.

3. in a sash guide assembly, an elongated channellike housing having a base wall and opposite side walls, said base wall having mounting openings therein at spaced points through which mounting screws or the like may be extended in mounting said housing, a pair of sash guide channels disposed in side by side relation in said housing, said base wall having one longitudinal section that is located opposite one of said channels olfset with respect to the other section of the base wall, means acting between the respective sections of said base wall and the respective channels to limit separating movement of said channels with respect to said base wall and define normal positions for said channels wherein one channel projects from said housing beyond the other channel, spring means urging said channels to said normal positions, and said channels having clearance openings therein opposite said mounting opening of said base wall and through which such mounting screws may be inserted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,688,165 Kinish Sept. 7, 1954 2,718,035 Schwerak Sept. 20, 1955 2,778,069 Starck et al Jan. 22, 1957 

